Your hotel is a big part of your travel experience. It can really make or break a vacation. You must know what things to look out for when you are reserving a room. These tips will help you find the best value.
Prior to booking a hotel, refer to TripAdvisor and similar online travel review sites. These websites have reviews and comments from people who have recent experience with their stay. You can make a wise choice when you know what others think about a hotel.
Check online hotel reviews prior to booking your stay. This will give you valuable information about the recent experiences of people at each hotel. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Find great prices at online travel sites like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You might also have other discounts from a membership in the AARP or AAA.
You can enjoy a romantic dinner in your room by calling room service. Although you’ll probably pay more, it is worth being able to comfortably dine in the room while in pajamas.
Make sure you check with any organizations of which you are a member. Some may offer discounts on hotels. Discounts of 10% or more are often available, and people sometimes forget that they are eligible to claim them. On a multiple night stay, these savings can really add up. For a week of vacation time that adds up to an extra day!
Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics secure by locking them in your hotel room’s safe. Your small electronic devices can be left in the safe when you are out, so you will not have to worry about them.
There are tons of online search tools that help customers find satisfactory rates they can’t find elsewhere. These kinds of websites allow you to locate great deals fast. They can provide you with an idea of the average rate charged by each hotel, so you will have a good idea as to whether or not the deal you are being offered is good. Also, hotel search websites can assist you in determining where to vacation and what to do there.
Make use of the various hotel search websites on the Internet. They allow you to quickly locate great discounts. They display the average rates of hotels so that you can see if the deal you are getting is good. You can also find out about local amenities and things offered by the hotels.
You can get better deals on hotel rooms if you book several weeks or months ahead. If you book one or two months in advance, you can often receive a discount. You may even be able to cut the price down by half!
Know the hotel’s check-in time. If you don’t know you may end up waiting a long time. Therefore, if you anticipate arriving early, call the hotel in advance and see if it is possible to check in early.
If you need to travel with your pet, you need to make three advance preparations. First, you’ll need to find out if a hotel is even pet-friendly. Also, bring a lot of plastic sacks like ones from the grocery store so you can get your pet’s messes cleaned up. Be kind to other hotel guests by requesting a room that is as far away from other guests as possible, so they won’t be disturbed by any noise your pet may make.
To get the lowest price on accommodations, plan your trip in advance. The earlier you book, the better rate you should get. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
If you would like to treat your partner to a massage, be sure to make the appointment far in advance. The best masseuses are booked well in advance.
See if you can get a hotel discount through AAA if you are a member. Did you know that this membership entitles you to hotel discounts? You can save 5%, 10% or more at quality hotels throughout the country. This is a savings that can really add up over several nights.
If you go out to travel quite a bit, it’s good to get signed up for a hotel’s loyalty program. There are many benefits you may be able to get. You can earn things like free upgrades, complimentary late check-out times and free stays if you accrue enough loyalty points.
Many hotels have loyalty programs available to customers who travel often. These programs provide benefits to guests who book the same hotel regularly. It is possible to earn perks such as free stays, extended check out times and other upgrades.
There are membership programs that hotels offer for those that stay frequently at their chains. These hotel programs give you points for each stay. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
If you stay at the same chain of hotels often, look into their membership programs for frequent guests. Similar to frequent flyer programs with an airline company, hotel programs will typically give you points for each visit. They add up to free nights, discounts at hotel restaurants, show tickets, spa deals and a whole lot more.
People who care about the environment may be more comfortable staying in a hotel that is eco-friendly. There are plenty of “green” hotels that take the environment into consideration. Some new buildings are certified as green. Some hotels that aren’t that new will pick out some ways to be more eco-friendly so they can show they care. You can ask a travel agent to pinpoint eco-friendly hotels, thus making sure your vacation doesn’t hurt the environment.
What you will be charged for a room, depends on when it’s booked. Hotels give rooms a price based on what’s available. Try booking your hotel room within 24 hours of your stay. Doing so will ensure you get the best possible price on a hotel room. A room that’s empty won’t help the hotel, so generally they will get the price lowered.
The cost of your hotel room largely depends on the dates on which you plan to stay there. The prices are based partly on availability. When possible, you can often get a good price if you book a room at the very last minute. This gives you the best prices in reserving hotel rooms. The hotel will earn no money at all if the room is empty, which gives you a much better bargaining position.
A membership in AAA can make booking a hotel easier when you travel. Not only do AAA members get hotel discounts at many chains that are well worth the AAA membership, but you can find it a lot easier to find a rental car where you go. In addition, free car seats are usually provided, which parents are certain to enjoy.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet, instead. Skype connections are available in many hotels these days using Wi-Fi. Use these connections to keep in touch instead of costly long distance calls.
Try not to make long distance calls from your hotel room. If you don’t have a cell phone or the Internet, buy a calling card to keep with you during your trip. Some hotels offer free Wi-Fi, so you can use Skype. You can still call family members, friends, and colleagues from your room without racking up tons of costly charges.
Make sure that your family enjoys their stay by calling ahead to ensure the hotel’s swimming pool is working, You don’t want to get there, only to disappoint your children when you find out the pool is closed.
Call the hotel before you arrive to make sure the swimming pool is in working order. If you arrive at your hotel and the pool is closed, your kids will be very disappointed.
Start looking in the bathroom when checking for bed bugs in a hotel. You probably won’t find any in there. That is what makes it the best place to start. You can store your luggage there and search the rest of your room for those bedbugs. It’s also safe for pets and kids this way.
When you look for bed bugs, start in the bathroom. This is where you are least likely to find bedbugs. When you determine there are not any in there, set your bags down and inspect the remainder of the premises. It is also the safest place for children and pets, too.
If you are concerned about good hygiene, do not use the bedspread given to you by the hotel. Sheets are generally washed after guests leave the room, but the bedspread typically isn’t. This can mean that the comforter has tons of germs and bacteria. Pull it off for peace of mind.
You should be aware of the hotel’s policy concerning pets. If you fear pets or have allergies to them, it may be best to make reservations at hotels that have a strict no pets policy. The hotels may have the smell of pet odors on the linens and floor. Some hotels charge extra fees for pets, but some do not charge much. The fee may cover totally or partially the cost of the extra cleaning involved.
Be prepared with a knowledge of your rights if a hotel ever tries to “walk” you. Sometimes a hotel will overbook and you will find the room you booked is not available. The hotel will then send or “walk” you to another hotel. Avoid this if you can, but if you must go someplace else, make sure the room you get is comparable to the one you booked, and you are paid to travel there.
If you’re going to need to get a crib or a rollaway, you need to let the people at the hotel know before you arrive. Not every hotel is going to come with cribs or rollaways. Also, these things can cost extra. Discuss these needs when making your reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Bundle your flight and your accommodations for greater savings. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book more than one service at the same time. Be sure and compare the rates on different sites, as some will offer better deals than others.
Now you should understand that some preparation goes a long way when it comes to booking hotels. You need to know what you are looking for and when you should book a room. So keep the tips from above in mind and you will be sure to find a hotel that is perfect for your needs.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. You might be able to do this by arriving on time. If you arrive early or in a timely manner, your room may not be ready for you yet; however, this can mean a discount on your rate.